NRM Primary Elections in Kawempe North Constituency: A Showdown Between Faridah and Hanifah Karadi

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is holding party primary elections in Kawempe North constituency to choose flag bearers for the 2026 general elections. The current party flag bearer, Faridah, is contesting against her rival, Hanifah Karadi. The two candidates faced off during the recently concluded Kawempe North Member of Parliament by-election, which was won by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi. Karadi had contested as an independent candidate after expressing her dissatisfaction with the party process that nominated Nambi as the party flag bearer. Karadi claimed that the nomination process was fraudulent and not free and fair, alleging that Nambi was favored due to her relationship with NRM National Vice Chairman Hajj Moses Kigongo. Today, Karadi is seeking the NRM flag in the party primary elections, while Nambi is confident of winning the election freely and fairly.

Key Takeaways:

• The NRM party primary elections in Kawempe North constituency are being contested by two candidates: Faridah and Hanifah Karadi.
• Karadi had previously contested as an independent candidate in the Kawempe North by-election, citing the party's nomination process as fraudulent and not free and fair.
• Nambi, the current party flag bearer, was chosen out of seven contenders and is the daughter of NRM National Vice Chairman Hajj Moses Kigongo.
• Karadi has said that she does not expect any NRM member who truly loves the party to contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 general elections.
• The voting method in the NRM primaries is by lining up behind the preferred candidate or their picture, a method criticized by election observers and political analysts as going against the principle of secret ballot.

Statistics:

• 7 contenders initially vied for the NRM flag bearer position in Kawempe North constituency.
• 2 candidates, Faridah and Hanifah Karadi, are currently contesting in the party primary elections.
• The NRM party primary elections are underway to choose flag bearers for the 2026 general elections.
• 1 candidate, Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North in the recent by-election won by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate.

Sources:

• "Karadi to contest for NRM flag after winning Kawempe North by-election". URN.com, 2022.
• "NRM Kawempe North primary election: Karadi and Faridah face off". Monitor.co.ug, 2022.
• "NRM to hold primary elections today". New Vision, 2022.